St. Eustatius will ease the quarantine measures as of April 11, 2021 Statia residents returning from abroad still need to have a negative PCR test at hand The easing measures are not applicable for tourists, even if they are vaccinated The Public Entity St. Eustatius will ease the measures as of April 11, 2021. Statia residents that are fully vaccinated do not need to go into quarantine when entering Statia after traveling abroad. This easing measure is not applicable for tourists.
The decision to easy the measures was taken after careful deliberation and after extensively consulting with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports in the Netherlands (VWS), the National Institute for Health and Environment (RIVM), the epidemiologist in Saba, Mr. Koen, the Public Health Department and the Crisis Management Team in Statia.
PRC test required
Statia residents returning from abroad still need to have a negative PCR test at hand, but this only applies if a high risk country was visited. A quick test (antigen) is also required 5 days after returning to Statia. In addition, social distancing and wearing a face mask are mandatory for the first 5 days after entry. Also, it is not allowed to attend events with more than 25 persons present during the first 5 days and the returning Statians must adhere to hygiene rules during these days such as washing hands regularly.
The easing measures are not applicable for tourists, even if they are vaccinated.
Children
Children that were abroad and return from high risk countries are not allowed to go to school or childcare for 5 days. Children in the age group of 4 years and older will be tested after 5 days. However, for children of 12 years and older, different measures apply. They need to go into quarantine upon arrival for 10 days. This can be done in the same house as their parents, but in a separate room. The distinction between these age groups is made due to the fact that children above 12 years are more often spreading the COVID-19 virus than children between 4 and 12 years.
Day visits to St. Maarten
Persons that are fully vaccinated with the two doses of the Moderna vaccine can visit St. Maarten for 1 day, without testing, and without the need to go into quarantine upon return to Statia. This easing measure is only applicable when the number of active COVID-19 cases on in St Maarten is below the 100 per week.
Incoming workers
Incoming workers that are vaccinated will be evaluated on a case by case basis. However, quarantine is required unless the type of work allows an easier regime.
Next steps
At this moment the Public Entity St. Eustatius is working on a roadmap which will include specific steps to further open Statia. This road map will first be discussed with the Central Committee next week.
The Public Health Department will begin administering the second dose of the vaccine on February 22nd, 2021. Up till now 765 persons were vaccinated with the first doses of the Moderna vaccine, which is a bit more than 30% of the adult population. The Public Health Department will begin administering the second dose of the vaccine on Monday, March 22nd, 2021. Up to 765 persons have received the first dose, a bit more than 30% of the adult population.
On Thursday, March 18, 2021, a four-country meeting was held with the Prime Ministers of St. Maarten, Curaçao and Aruba and State Secretary Knops. The Caribbean countries were informed that the advice on the Kingdom Consensus Law from the Council of State was issued and shared with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) last week. As such, it was forwarded to the three Caribbean countries via the cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary today, Friday, March 19, 2021.
The advice cannot be debated or shared publicly per law until it is handled in the Kingdom Council of Ministers (RMR) meeting and sent to the Second Chamber of the Parliament of the Netherlands and the Parliaments of St. Maarten, Curaçao and Aruba. The Council of Advice of St. Maarten was also requested to render their feedback and once this trajectory has been completed the Parliament of St. Maarten can then debate the Kingdom Consensus Law.
During the meeting, the way forward was discussed and each country agreed to appoint a technical team to assist in addressing the concerns of the Council of State and collaborate on the further report to be submitted to the Kingdom Council of Ministers.
Furthermore, a letter requesting a confirmation of our commitment was received from State Secretary Knops on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. A response was sent on Wednesday, March 17, with a clear affirmation. The letter and response has since been shared with Parliament. The Government of St. Maarten is committed to carry out the established agreements on the country package for St. Maarten to receive further liquidity support. The Council of Ministers has approved the completed implementation plan on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. This is two weeks in advance of the scheduled April 1st deadline. The implementation plan will be carried out within the next three months and the next implementation plan will be prepared and finalized by July.
The Government of St. Maarten received broad support from 13 of the 14 Members of Parliament present to enter into agreements with the Netherlands to receive the third tranche of liquidity support. The country package agreements were signed between Government of St. Maarten and State Secretary Knops on December 22, 2020, and included an agreement to follow the trajectory of the Caribbean Development and Reform Entity (COHO) as long as it does not infringe on local, kingdom and international laws.
Today again, during the continuation of the Central Committee meeting of Parliament on the Country Package for St. Maarten, the majority of the Members of Parliament affirmed their support to the Government of St. Maarten to continue with the trajectory as was agreed back in December 2020.
Rating Action: Moody’s downgrades Sint Maarten to Ba2, changes outlook to negative, concluding review for downgradeGlobal Credit Research – 19 Mar 2021
New York, March 19, 2021 — Moody’s Investors Service, (“Moody’s”) has today downgraded the Government of Sint Maarten’s issuer ratings to Ba2 from Baa3. Moody’s also changed the outlook to negative. This concludes the review for downgrade that commenced on 10 February 2021.
The key drivers behind the rating action were:
• Policy differences with the Netherlands, the sole source of financing for Sint Maarten
• Untested access to alternative sources of financing, which exacerbates the credit impact of the large increase in Sint Maarten’s debt burden
The negative outlook reflects the risk that political differences with the Netherlands may lead to a repeat of the funding problems Sint Maarten faced at the end of last year.
The local currency ceiling is lowered to Baa2 from A3 and the foreign currency ceiling is lowered to Baa3 from Baa1. The three notch gap between the local currency ceiling and the sovereign rating reflects the limited role of the government in the economy. The one notch difference between the foreign and local current ceilings reflects the limited scope to impose transfer and convertibility controls within Sint Marteen’s existing monetary union.
RATINGS RATIONALE
RATIONALE FOR THE DOWNGRADE TO Ba2
POLICY DIFFERENCES WITH THE NETHERLANDS, THE SOLE SOURCE OF FINANCING FOR SINT MAARTEN
Sint Maarten, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, funds itself solely with the Dutch Treasury. Differences between the two nations on the implementation of certain policy measures led the government of the Netherlands to temporarily withhold liquidity support at the end of 2020, and a subsequent delay in debt payments by Sint Maarten.
Last December the government of Sint Maarten missed a NAF50 million maturity repayment on debt owed to the government of the Netherlands, a debt payment deadline that had been extended twice before. The delays were the result of lack of progress on several policy reforms requested by the Netherlands including compensation cuts for public employees in Sint Maarten.
The funding crisis happened after the twin shocks of Hurricane Irma in 2017, and the 2020 covid pandemic, pushed Sint Maarten’s government debt to over 70% of GDP in 2020 from less than 30% of GDP prior to these events. Low cost financing from the Netherlands, which on lends to Sint Maarten at very low to concessional rate terms, has limited the debt’s rise impact on interest costs but Sint Maarten will continue to require substantial liquidity support. Moody’s estimates gross borrowing requirements equivalent to more than 11% of GDP in each of 2021 and 2022.
UNTESTED ACCESS TO ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FINANCING
The Netherland’s decision to delay liquidity disbursements highlighted Sint Maarten’s lack of independent access to the capital markets, a credit negative development as the country’s debt burden continues to rise. Faced with this lack of liquidity support the government of Sint Maarten did not have alternative sources of funding. Moody’s expects that Sint Maarten will continue to rely on funding from the Netherlands and remain subject to occasional liquidity constraints. And any future funding from market sources would imply higher interest costs, raising concerns about the government’s debt affordability.
In recent months the government of the Netherlands has requested several policy reforms including wage cuts to public sector employees as well as reforms to improve financial management and strengthen the rule of law. To assist in the implementation of these reforms, the government of the Netherlands seeks the creation of a Dutch-Caribbean oversight group called the Caribbean Entity for Reform and Development (COHO). COHO’s purpose is to review policy implementations by Sint Maarten, Curacao, and Aruba.
Moody’s expects that Sint Maarten’s process of developing own institutions and meeting requirements by the Netherlands will be a multi-year effort, and will be prone to occasional setbacks. Lack of progress in advancing these objectives may increase the risk that disagreements with the Netherlands lead to another liquidity crisis.
RATIONALE FOR THE NEGATIVE OUTLOOK
The negative outlook reflects the risk that the slow pace of policy reform, including delays in approving and implementing the COHO oversight office, will lead the Netherlands to once again limit liquidity support and a repeat of the funding problems Sint Maarten faced at the end of last year.
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS
Moody’s takes account of the impact of environmental (E), social (S) and governance (G) factors when assessing sovereign issuers’ economic, institutional and fiscal strength and their susceptibility to event risk. In the case of Sint Maarten the materiality of ESG to the credit profile is as follows:
Sint Maarten’s ESG Credit Impact Score is highly negative (CIS-4), reflecting a highly negative exposure to environmental risks, moderate exposure to social risks and a moderately negative governance profile, balancing development of its own institutions with institutional and economic support from the Netherlands.
Sint Maarten’s exposure to environmental risks is highly negative (E-4 issuer profile score). The island is still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Sint Maarten is a small island economy that is exposed to these types of climate events, particularly because the economy is heavily dependent on tourism.
Exposure to social risks is moderately negative (S-3 issuer profile score), reflecting social demands on housing, jobs and basic services exacerbated by the physical and economic impact of regular weather shocks.
Sint Maarten’s exposure to governance risks is moderately negative (G-3 issuer profile) and balances the challenges the government faces as it continues to build domestic institutions since becoming a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010 with continued economic, logistical, and institutional support from the government of the Netherlands.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
Moody’s could consider a stable outlook if Sint Maarten develops and implements a new, long-term credible funding process that eliminates the risk of another funding crisis. Such a process would likely require acquiescence by the government of the Netherlands and a political agreement between the two nations.
Moody’s could consider a negative rating action if the likelihood of another liquidity crisis increases. Lack of a clear plan to address long term funding challenges, including changes to the current institutional arrangements governing debt management, could contribute to this rating outcome. Expectations of continued political confrontations with the Netherlands that raised the risk of a repeat of the recent funding problems would also negatively affect the rating.
GDP per capita (PPP basis, US$): 39,507 (2019 Actual) (also known as Per Capita Income)
Real GDP growth (% change): 8.2% (2019 Actual) (also known as GDP Growth)
Gen. Gov. Financial Balance/GDP: -1.8% (2019 Actual) (also known as Fiscal Balance)
Current Account Balance/GDP: -14.1% (2019 Actual) (also known as External Balance)
External debt/GDP: 40.9% (2019 Actual)
Economic resiliency: ba3
Default history: No default events (on bonds or loans) have been recorded since 1983.
On 16 March 2021, a rating committee was called to discuss the rating of the St. Maarten, Government of. The main points raised during the discussion were: The issuer’s institutions and governance strength, have materially decreased. The issuer’s governance and/or management, have materially decreased. The issuer has become increasingly susceptible to event risks.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Sovereign Ratings Methodology published in November 2019 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1158631. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
The weighting of all rating factors is described in the methodology used in this credit rating action, if applicable.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For further specification of Moody’s key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody’s Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.
For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody’s rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider’s credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.
These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody’s Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.
At least one ESG consideration was material to the credit rating action(s) announced and described above.
The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody’s affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody’s Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody’s office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.
The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody’s affiliates outside the UK and is endorsed by Moody’s Investors Service Limited, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5FA under the law applicable to credit rating agencies in the UK. Further information on the UK endorsement status and on the Moody’s office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody’s legal entity that has issued the rating.
Fixing the Caribbean’s solid waste problem With roots in traditional agriculture and maritime economies, the Caribbean produced very little inorganic waste for centuries, recycling and reusing as a way of life. But with population growth and urbanization, these governments are now struggling with an urgent and large-scale solid waste problem that poses a risk to the health, safety and natural beauty of the island—which, without action, will only become more complex, damaging and costly in years to come.
A mounting issue in the Caribbean
André Wright, Executive Vice President of Standard International Group Today’s inorganic waste—such as construction and demolition waste, biohazardous medical material, trashed appliances, consumer electronics, automotive parts, tires and other consumer goods—have increasingly become a major environmental risk. Among the main forms of solid waste disposal today are landfills and waste-to-energy facilities.
A landfill, or garbage dump, is among the oldest and most common forms of waste disposal. In many islands across the Caribbean, landfills are simply overfilled. St. Maarten is an example of a landfill that is past capacity: it’s not a hole, but a mountain. Due to overflow from the 2017 hurricane debris, the problem has gotten so bad that residents near the landfill have had to move due to frequent fires. The country received a $25 million grant to help improve debris management, but the problem is yet to be solved as the government continues its search for a lasting solution, losing valuable tourism dollars in the meantime. Both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands currently exceed US Environmental Protection Agency’s landfill capacity limits.
Another waste management category is waste-to-energy incineration. These facilities reroute non-hazardous waste from landfills and turn it into energy for homes and businesses, as well as for steam for industrial purposes. Waste-to-energy also reduces methane gas emissions by diverting trash from landfills.
Transfer stations are another important part of the solid waste management process. These facilities process and sort materials in which the waste may be recycled, disposed and transferred to either a landfill or an incinerator, or at a hazardous waste site.
Each of these solid waste disposal tactics has its applicability for different kinds of waste, environments and needs, but not every island has each of these options. In finding a solid waste solution, the cost must make sense for the government as well as local populations. In other words, most governments have elected to spend money creating energy that is worth less than the energy created. This is not the most advantageous strategy.
The problem with landfills Landfills are scarce on islands because land is scarce. Most land is owned by the government or has been passed down by families. On a small island, there isn’t a lot of land available, and there are higher and better uses for property than to make it a landfill. Which would be more profitable, a landfill or a 500-room luxury resort? The answer is almost any kind of development would be more profitable—and more beautiful.
Landfills are not always easy to implement. The landfill must not be overfilled and to protect the environment should be properly lined with polyurethane, so toxins from the trash do not seep into the ground water. Landfills pose a significant fire hazard as well due to the combustive effects of compacted garbage, and when ignited, the smoke emitted can be as bad or worse than that of an oil refinery.
The long-term plan for a landfill is to ultimately create a beneficial asset from it, such as a recreational park or commercial development. Without a future plan in place, the Caribbean landfills are running out of space, and the trash problem is only getting messier.
Types of waste Today’s most common types of solid waste are some of the most hazardous to the environment—including construction and demolition (C&D), appliance and electronic, as well as automotive and medical waste.
As islands become more developed and experience the effects of a major hurricane, construction and demolition waste is a common result. There might be a concrete building that needs to be torn down or a new hotel being built, both of which generate a massive amount of waste. Proper construction waste management is a major element to consider for an island whose hotel construction and real estate development industry is on the rise.
Appliance waste, such as a refrigerator or freezer, has freon and cannot be put into the ground. Automotive waste, such as automobiles, parts and tires, are often improperly disposed of. Biomedical waste disposal is another serious risk as blood and other biohazardous waste can damage landfills and the environment, and even spread disease and bacteria. This kind of waste most often must be exported off the island because of its potential damaging effects.
Lastly, with climate change and natural disasters impacting the Caribbean every few years, thousands of cubic yards of waste, timber and miscellaneous garbage are often an unfortunate result. This kind of remediation requires swift cleanup and proper disposal. For any country or island who have experienced hurricane damage, having a solid waste plan in place can make a positive difference.
Finding a solution that works According to Forbes, 10 of the world’s 30 largest per-capita plastic polluters are Caribbean islands, the worst culprit being Trinidad and Tobago. Recently, seven Caribbean countries banned single-use plastic as the ocean plastic problem has become more serious. St. Eustatius recently announced their ban of single-use plastics to improve island-wide sustainability and reduction of trash. While these measures are a good start, governments must take control of the problem.
With the weight of their country’s well-being on their shoulders, government groups are often unprepared for today’s increasing solid waste problems. The waste stream on every island is different, but there are near-term as well as long-term measures each island may take in order to optimize their solid waste solution.
Near term-solutions such as regular trash pickup, and mandating the separation of trash like in New York City, where garbage is disposed of separately from glass, metal, paper and plastic, can make a big, immediate difference. A can and bottle recycling program should be implemented as well. Even a small amount of money motivates most people to recycle their beverage containers, and reduces can and bottle environmental waste. While charging for trash collection remains an issue for most governments, Islands may be able to charge for waste pickup and disposal, particularly amongst the tourism sector as a small add-on fee.
Long-term solid waste management solutions may take time, but the investment can pay off tenfold. Getting creative is key.
Getting creative with solid waste After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico had non-EPA compliant solid-waste and their landfills were already over capacity. The only option was to look outside the confines of the country for a place to put their debris.
We proposed to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Government of Guyana to deliver the wood debris into remnant sand mines, which the government once used to make drinking glasses, now sitting dormant, and C&D into remnant bauxite mines. Finding the right destination for solid waste, while adding value to its location while being mindful of environmental laws, can create win-win situations for both parties.
An experienced financial advisor with experience in this sector can help find the right destination for solid waste, assist in executing the project properly and legally, and ensure a result that is beneficial to the community and the bottom line.
How to make an island more sustainable Governments should be thinking about the impact that solid waste having on their budgets, their islands and beatification initiatives. They should be thinking about the commercial viability of waste, such as implementing a trash pickup if they don’t have one already; a recycling program; a redemption program for deposits on cans and bottles; and commit to fixing the solid waste problem on their islands. This is particularly true in islands whose economies and tourism sectors are growing.
There is clearly work to be done across the Caribbean’s solid waste infrastructure, but the “throwaway” culture, not just in the Caribbean but around the world, needs to change as well. Sustainable initiatives and education are critical for locals and tourists alike. People must be educated on the importance of sustainability in order to bring the Caribbean and U.S. Municipal back to its green, environmentally-aware roots.
By making recommendations on solid waste disposal, including critical issues related to hazardous waste management, an experienced Caribbean infrastructure financial advisor can advise governments on how to deal with their solid waste problems, provide creative solutions, and turn their garbage into profit.
Source: André Wright, Executive Vice President of Standard International Group https://www.recycling-magazine.com/2021/03/19/fixing-the-caribbeans-solid-waste-problem/
Today they cut our disability to $360 per month. We are expected to survive on that, and we are not allowed any supplemental income. The Red Cross contacted me to cut my food card which is $160.00 per month. Mind you, we pay up to twice as much for food than you do in Europe and the United States. I believe that is politically motivated because I was the first person to criticize the petition and the people who wrote it. So I am reading the Dutch press earlier to translate to English to post and Knops is cutting any additional aid to St Maarten. Because Millionaire Grisha, millionaire Theo weren’t content with the millions they had, they stole $17 Million More. Right now Holland is trying to punish the poor, the pensioners, the disabled to spite the millionaire government and their billionaire friend. Explain to me the logic in that? Because of Holland’s stupid actions over the years they cannot and will not ever get the people on their side. If the people are not on your side, you cannot win. The Dutch government acts superior to the Antillian government, but they have yet to show any actual intelligence when it comes to the Antilles.
** Court confirms existing case law regarding civil servants in ‘acting’ functions **
On Monday, March 15th, the Court in Civil Servants Matters rejected the claim of a police officer who claimed a right to be appointed as the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice, based on having acted in that position for several months. The Court reminded the police officer that there are procedures that need to be followed before an appointment by the Governor can take place, and an acting Secretary-General should have been aware of this. A mere public announcement by a previous Minister that someone will fill the position of Secretary-General, cannot undermine or set aside the proper procedure to appoint a civil servant in this function, which is laid down in the law.
The Ministry of Justice is confronted with a number of claims of civil servants who have been told that if they are acting in a position, they have an automatic right to be appointed to the job and should go to court to have this ‘rectified’. This information is not correct. It is standing case law that special circumstances must apply before a court will rule that a civil servant could have reasonably expected to be appointed in the function which they filled during a vacancy or in the absence of the previously appointed person. In a Curacaolean case, a period of 12 years was not sufficient to create such an expectation.
Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson is aware of the large number of civil servants in the justice chain that are currently performing their roles in an ‘acting’ capacity, sometimes for years. As soon as the function books and scales have been established into law, the process of placing civil servants in their new functions with their updated salary scales will start.
SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – The Management of the Police of Sint Maarten (KPSM) would like to hereby confirm that The Officer F.L.M.P-T of KPSM was arrested by the National Detectives earlier on Friday morning, March 19, 2021.
We would like to emphasize that this colleague is now also a suspect and that, just like any other citizen, his guilt must be proven. The investigation is now underway, which we as an organization will await before we can respond substantively. We were informed about the ongoing investigation and we are of course cooperating fully with the National Detectives, KPSM said in its statement.
“The management of KPSM stands for a Police Force with integrity and if there are any issues of misconduct should be raised and investigated. We therefore see this investigation as an outcome of this. The judicial system will be put into work and will deal with the inappropriate/ of criminal behavior.
“No further comments into this investigation can de divulge at the moment. This investigation into the culpability of this officers is still in its early stages,” the KPSM statement concludes. (KPSM)
Banned from U.S., Royal Caribbean Group to start Bahamas, St. Maarten cruises in June With the cruise industry shut down in the U.S. for the foreseeable future, Royal Caribbean Group is turning to the Caribbean for its North America restart in June. Its Celebrity Millennium cruise ship will start seven-night cruises from St. Maarten on June 5, and its Adventure of the Seas ship will start seven-night cruises from Nassau, The Bahamas, on June 12. All crew and passengers older than 18 will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19; those under 18 will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of boarding.
“The vaccines are clearly a game changer for all of us, and with the number of vaccinations and their impact growing rapidly, we believe starting with cruises for vaccinated adult guests and crew is the right choice,” said Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley in a statement. “As we move forward, we expect this requirement and other measures will inevitably evolve over time.”
The company is still determining whether it will require crew and passengers to wear masks and how full the ships will be.
“We are not sailing until June and we know much can change between now and then,” said Royal Caribbean International spokesperson Lyan Sierra-Caro via email. “We will continue to follow the science and the data.”
The Celebrity Millennium cruises will visit Aruba, Curaçao and Barbados on one itinerary and Tortola, St. Lucia and Barbados on another. The Adventure of the Seas cruises will visit Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island and Cozumel, Mexico.
This time last year, Caribbean countries shut their ports to cruise ships for fear that infected passengers would overwhelm their finite health resources. At times, infected cruise passengers and crew made up large portions of islands’ total case counts. Cruise outbreaks led to at least 111 crew and passenger deaths and affected 87 ships, according to a Miami Herald investigation.
After a five-and-a-half month cruise ban in the U.S., in October the CDC published a “conditional sail order,” the agency’s framework for restarting in the U.S. Phase one of the order requires companies to test crew members for COVID-19 weekly and report results to the agency. There are still some companies with ships in U.S. waters that have not complied with phase one of the order, according to agency spokesperson Caitlin Shockey. Once phase one is completed, the companies will move into phase two: securing agreements with local health authorities and ports.
The CDC’s October order, published before the COVID-19 vaccine distribution began, includes some requirements that go beyond what Royal Caribbean Group is planning for its Caribbean cruises, including PCR testing for all passengers and crew on embarkation and disembarkation days. It also requires companies to publicize CDC cruise travel warnings in all marketing materials and end cruises immediately in the case of an outbreak.
The CDC currently has a Level 4 warning against cruise travel — the agency’s highest — and “recommends that all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, because the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high.” Sierra-Caro, the Royal Caribbean International spokesperson, said via email that the company’s outbreak response plan includes “swift containment, contact tracing, enhanced medical capabilities on board and support on land with health care providers and destination partners.”
On a Thursday letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava encouraged the agency to allow cruises in the U.S. by July 4 and said PortMiami is working on getting a permanent COVID-19 testing lab up and running.
Meanwhile, lines are moving ahead just south of U.S. waters. Miami-based Crystal Cruises also plans to start seven-night, all-Bahamas cruises from Nassau and Bimini in July for vaccinated passengers.
The last attempt at cruising in the Caribbean — last fall — didn’t last. Seven passengers and two crew members tested positive for COVID-19 aboard the SeaDream 1 in November, with just 53 passengers on board. The sick were evacuated to hospitals in Barbados, and SeaDream canceled all remaining cruises for 2020.
PHILIPSBURG, March 17, 2021 – The US$12 million Digital Government Transformation Project was approved by the Sint Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Trust Fund. This project aims to enhance the access, efficiency, and resilience of public services for citizens and businesses.
“Given Sint Maarten’s vulnerability to natural disasters, business continuity and systems resilience are critical. Bringing key government services online can make the country more resilient to future disasters, while also making citizens’ and businesses’ daily lives easier,” said Michelle Keane, World Bank Program Manager for the Sint Maarten Trust Fund.
The project will finance digital platforms and associated institutional, regulatory reforms to lay the foundations for digital government. Digital government can help citizens receive faster responses to requests, use online payment options, and digitally access public services such as receiving certificates of good conduct, and filing building permits. The business community will also benefit through automating processes, such as economic license acquisition. Access to government services will be available on kiosk machines, an online portal, and mobile applications, which are expected to enhance access, efficiency, and speed of public services. The project will also improve local capacity and assist the Government to recover from disasters, pandemics, and cyber-attacks.
Working on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten, the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB), will coordinate closely with the Ministry of General Affairs to implement this project. The NRPB’s Director Claret Connor said, “With the help of projects such as this one, in the coming years Sint Maarten will have the means to manage its own digital processes seamlessly. This will greatly enhance the services offered to the community and I hope our private sector will adopt similar advancements, allowing the country to step into the digital future.”
The establishment of a Digital Leadership Team by Sint Maarten’s Government further underlines the country’s commitment to digital transformation. Femi Badejo, ICT focal point noted that “This project will establish the basis for Sint Maarten to develop digitally through platforms that the country can build on in a modular way.”
The Sint Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Trust is financed by the Government of the Netherlands, managed by The World Bank, and implemented by Sint Maarten’s National Recovery Program Bureau. https://www.miragenews.com/sint-maarten-trust-fund-approves-12-million-for-531393/
